Rud Browne

Rud Browne is serving his first term on the Whatcom County Council, which began January 2014. In 2016, Rud is the Council Vice-Chair, Finance and Administrative Services Committee Chair, and serves on the Public Works, Health and Safety Committee. In addition, he is appointed to several community boards and committees, including the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Whatcom Council of Governments, Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee (ex officio), and Intergovernmental Tribal Relations Committee. Rud is a member of the World Presidents Organization, the Rotary Club of Bellingham, the Bellingham Angels Group, and the Bellingham City Club.

Rud Browne was elected November 2013. His campaign, his businesses, and his life have been predicated on one simple message: we can have both economic prosperity and environmental sustainability or we will have neither.

Rud is a proven entrepreneur. He started recycling scrap metal when he was 10 years old. In 1981 Rud taught himself computer programming and spent 30 years in the hi-tech sector. Rud and his family moved to Whatcom County 20 years ago.

From his small family apartment and with his own money, Rud started The Ryzex Group. He built Ryzex into an innovative and highly successful multinational mobile technology solutions company, growing it to $75 million in annual revenues and providing employment for 360 people (140 in Whatcom County).

Rud promoted the recycling ethic within the company he built to the point that the Bellingham facility was able to eliminate all waste produced by the business. The lessons learned became the basis of the popular local program called Towards Zero Waste, which has resulted in over 300 businesses and schools reducing their waste by at least 50%, with many making more profits in the process.

Rud sold Ryzex in 2011 and is now Founder / CEO of Ryanna Capital LLC, a local company focused on supporting other entrepreneurs and innovative business models.

In 2004 Rud was recognized as the Whatcom County Business Person of the Year and in 2007 as a winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Under Rud’s leadership, Ryzex received numerous awards, including “Best Places to Work,” and the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce Green Business of the Year. Rud has previously held board positions on:

Bellingham City Club

Bellingham Public Development Authority

Brigid Collins Child Abuse and Family Support Center

Entrepreneurs Organization (Vancouver), as Vice President for Ethics

Northwest Economic Council

St. Paul’s Academy

Western Washington University College of Business and Economics (CBE) Advisory Board

Whatcom County Ethics Commission

Young Presidents Organization, Pacific Northwest chapter

Rud has also served as an Aircrew member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. Rud’s passions are his family, friends, and community service.